[Opposition leader Raila Odinga alongside ODM deputy leader Ali Hassan Joho, addressing press, April 11, 2017. Photo/Hivisasa.com]
Opposition leader Raila Odinga has once again taken a swipe on president Uhuru Kenyatta, accusing him of failing to account for Sh280 billion, Eurobond funds.
''We have noted with dismay, as well as bemusement, the claim by president Kenyatta that our contention that the government has failed to account for proceeds of the 2014 sovereign bond issue (Eurobond) is unfounded.''
According to him, for quite a while now, Kenyatta and his government have been telling 'blatant lies on easily verifiable information'.
Raila cited the inability to show the projects that were financed with the money by the government, as one of the reasons why the Eurobond scandal had refused to go away.
''Kenyans will recall that the Treasury CS reported that Eurobond proceeds amounting to Kshs. 196 billion had been disbursed to ministries for development projects in FY2014/15. We have maintained that it is not practically possible to absorb that amount of additional money in development projects within a financial year,'' he said.
If the money had been invested in ongoing projects, and new ones, Raila noted there would not be enough days in the week for the president to launch them.
''We need not belabor the president’s project launching challenges. The answer to the phantom projects mystery may be on hand. We have seen the President intimidating the Auditor General at his ill-fated Corruption Summit, followed by numerous clumsy attempts to cripple him or remove him from office.''
Odinga said they had a reason to believe that the attacks on the Auditor General Edward Ouko were meant to pre-empt the completion of the special audit on the Eurobond.
''If our allegations are unfounded, why go to such great lengths to obstruct and intimidate the Auditor General? What is Jubilee afraid of?'' he wondered, as he addressed the press, Tuesday.
''The Eurobond ghosts are clearly haunting the president,'' Raila said.